CBP Release Package — page 38

HMMbrought into CBP Federal Inspection Area for inspection. Baggage examination revealed a box with 132 vials which were identificl I to likely being chambers of Drosophila sp. (a species of fly) eggs, larvae, or adults. Drosophila, commonly used model organisms to study a variety of biological research hypothesis. The 132 vials were secured within the shipping box and detained on NE pending results of jj 's outbound inspection Jj was interviewed in the jetway by x who identified themselves as CBP officers Jj stated he is an J and returning to China for months after being present in the United States ff months. HR provided address ns . BM stated he has U.S. phone number (NS and Chinese number (NN. GM also provided phone number. Gl was asked about employment and said he was a teacher. When asked what kind he stated a life sciences professor. J then specified more so saying he's a professor of genetics and has a PhO said he does no lab work and has no biologicals in his possession J said that he was going to China to work. J said he has a teaching position in China at Zhengzhou University was asked about U.S. employment and said he work their biochemistry department under Professor a a ee © nen MEN stated he is a professor and stated he has no biologicals in his carry-on or checked baggage was notified that lying or misrepresenting to CBP officers may be illegal and asked again stating he has no biologicals or other materials from a lab in his checked or carry-on bag@@J was asked about any issues with CBP in the past and stated none. jj was asked about any issues with CBP In Detroit Metro Airport in the Past NE. Gl) Stated that he had an issue because he brought biologicals once around November 2018. il] stated a "colleague" Yusen Zhou asked him as a favor to bring items to a guy named i whose at the Universit NN. GMM was asked to describe his colleague relationship with Yusen Zhou). GM) immediately backtracked the phrase colleague and identified Yusen Zhou as a friend and said they do not work together] was asked where Yusen works and said he has since passed away a year ago but worked at Beijing Institute of Biotechnology. HM said they know each other through collaboration. When asked about their collaboration he said not a formal collaboration just knowing each other and being friends] was asked to describe their informal collaboration and said they were working on a project for immune system to fight viruses. 9] further described it by saying it was research on nano biotechnology for gene therapy in relation to cancer. was asked how many occasions he visited Yusen's Office]jj] appeared very uncomfortable and was saying he never visited and it was all just information discussion but eventually stated he went there twice.§jj was asked if Beijing Institute of Biotechnology was part of a larger university. Jj said no it was just an institute but then stated it's like a government institute. MM was asked if it's a People's Liberation Army Institute and said nog] was asked which location he visited in Beijing (Haidian or Fengtai) and said it's in Fengtaif] was asked if it was correct that Beijing Institute of Biotechnology was part of the PLAs Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS) and said it probably was jj was asked to describe the length of time for their collaboration and said between January 2019 to June 2@2@ when Yusen passed away was asked to identify Yusen's colleagues and said there was a person name] (MMM was asked about i GI) 200 said no way she's very famous. was confronted about attempting to conceal his ties to the PLA and notified CBP had already located biologicals in his checked baggage and asked to describe what was in his possession] stated he has about 100 vials of fruit flies in his checked bag and said he did not declare because he was not sure he was allowed to transport through the border Mj was asked why he didn't obtain a customs broker and said it's just to much work and said the vials are very important to himfTM was asked how he obtained the vials and said from who he later identified (x University. jj stated the flies are for genetics and cancer research (MM University. ig said they are expensive, not easily obtainable in China Mj said thi